New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-07
WHITE HOUSE ETIQUETTE.
WINE FOR THE DIPLOMATS. WATER FOR
MRS. CLEVELAND.

President and Mrs Cleveland to the Diplomatic Corps
on Thursday evening" forty out of the foryone plates
were marked by glasses for seven wines. AT MRS
Cleyelands plate there goblet OF ice water ano
glass for Apollinars. This silent expression ID favor
of temperance by the mistress OF the White house
ought to satisfy the strongest advocates Oh to.a
| nence even in the Women's Christian Iemperahct
Union There has been some curiosity and good dea
OF honest interest to know what the PRESIDENTS foupe
ninlo TIC dinner nre ented itself 1t has been known
that among her friends Mrs Cleveland never touc LED
wine and it has been quietly whispered dna'
! Early IN the autumn the wife of Secretary whitney
gave luncheon honor Of the Presidents WIFE, soon
after certain resolutions said to have been adopted Dy
the Temperance Union, Published In some OF the
newsp ,pers. They were in eheot request thar the
Presidents wife should commit herself TO the cause OF
tenn pcrauoe by frowning down the nse OF wines at
social entertainments given by official people She was
called upon to be example. Referring to thus lew
days after when talking with visitor, Mrs. Cleveland
said: " 1t seems Incredible that these resolutions
should be genuine. They know how feel about 1t. ana
need no words from to prove that am in favor oil
temper nee Miss Frances Z. Willard is dear per-
sonal friend OF nine, and she knows so we'll what my
feelings are on the temperance question" .
The first dinner at which Mrs Cleveland presided as
absence of wine glasses from her plate then was le 8
obser ved it well known to most OF the guests
that she drank wne 1t was perhaps an easy .n,n9
TO drink cold water when the guests were personal
friends and not to drink VINE was no test OF moral
courage. Mis-. Hayes it will be remembered lncndeu
her diplomatic guests when she drank water ana gave
them no wine. OF course it caused offence Diplomats
who have all their lives drank w me at home nave no
mutton of drinking ice water, when In 7ited out MIS-
Cleveland has made no mistake n prassont save
ven wines the diplomats and had the seven hinse
But Mrs. Cleveland, Just across the table drank her
cold water brayey ami sweetlv, and looked too lovely
tor ANYTHING" of the guests said the next nay
There wine glasses to the night OF her ana wine
glasses to the left of her." said another guest the
Haytan Minister with seven on her rght anu occre,
tary Bayard " it'll her lett, but still she ala
not talter' laughing but with approval IN his voice
1t would that Mrs. Clevelands courage to take
what she tet ri hit step nj the beginning was
very generally admired bv the foreiSp guests IL was
simply aud gracefully done, and so naturally that
while observed il nevertheless created no surprise IL
seemed to belong to her as woman who has rom time
to time proved herself strong Character ne
Women's Temperance Union can nave no iurtner
doub and could ask for more practical illustration
OF TEN principles than the pretty mistress OF
the White House gave Mt her first Diplomatic Dinner
There was no halt action not even the form oil
glasses at her plate But the plain, openly acknowl-
edged admission that il al the world drank WINE she
alone would drink cold water.
There is much wine and punch drinking in Washing
ton. But there are plenty OF women IN omc'ai ne
who will rejoice 1T the step taken by the Presidents
wife. A Senator'S vile said q week ago wan 10
give dinner parties and receptions want 10 'peran
nv friends. W. afford it and we would like it, But
nv husband and are opOc sed to wines, and have
not the courage entertain ithout them
Several important tres have lit ted official circles
this week. The women up in arms over a new
fashion at the White House receptions II used TO be
a pleasure to 60 into the iiluo Room, said 70, Tn"
wife OF official, the other day. but II Is often very
awkward now After greeting the President and Mrs.
Cleveland and Mrs Manning. one hardly knows what
to do with the rest OF the time must saw, like to
shake hands with people know. But this new-iangied
wrinkle that the other Cabinet women have taken mp
may be all very fine and civ but IT Is not agreeable
nor pleasant welcome to guests For instance vou
shake hands with the President and his wife both of
whom give you hearty aud vigorous grasp as II tieV
meant something Then Mrs. Manning follows their
example and greets You in the same pleasant way
You feel tina: you really we come and clad you
went and got crowded to get ill., Its "A reward OF
merit. you know. and you feel as happy rs II you
hadn't struggled and suffered Just a minute before
But the next minute as you pass on you are re-
ceved with cold formal bows by the other ASSISTANTS
in the line It's all very fine and stately, OF course rs
have said. These women stand erect before YOU each
with her hands AS immovable a. il they were man
aced, aud each gives you unbenhing nod OF rcco
milton. tel. you, it's just like bong suddenly struck
by a cold wave. You ieel chilled and all the warmth
and glow OF no pitaty and good.ieel'ng vanirhes at
o"ce. To he ITS a thing Secretary Lamar's
wife has gtit too Sne stands at the end OF the line
and turtnest from the President and Nv tho time you
reach her you teel pretty well CONCEALED Nobody cx
poets them 10 shake hands With oil the strangers But
it has been the heretofore Tor the assistants To
shake hands with people ;hey knew. IL seems
.bsnrd, when you know the Cabinet women III Their
own homes i'll social, friendly way. 10 have them put
this formal manner in the Blue Room. 1t makes one
ee ust like staying away from the White House Oh
no. Fatigue OF hand haking has nothing 10 do with IT,
It's wrinkle they've adopted this season. Now,
you needn't tell that Mrs. Lamar has not been used
to the old time han,ishaking with irends. She - a
southern and has never been used to any other
mode of greeting But the very first time the old lady
gets into line at the White House she too catches on
and rerudaes the old fashion she held to as the true
one tor halt a century,
" DO you suppose she's been instrnctedf '" asked
Senator's wife laughing.
" Oi course she ta>."
"weil. | think the President ought to veto
this new-iangled wrinkle put in a brusque Young
woman. " II were President I'd send them message
calling attention TO my example and suggest they io
low and show they are In the line to assist and
sinpl " tn t,,n1t To he AZ. |
though. that Mrs Manning the ONLY OF the Cab
met women who follows tho lead OF the President and
his wife in their way OF re ewing peoplei =
"Oh she has the tact TO it's the proper thing TO
do. She greets people in the Blue Room, when she
know s them nut h she does In her mouse. And
when strangers show the inc nation to extend their
hands she meets thom fully way aud shaker hands
with them OF course they fee III re comfortable TO
have the elcoue of the President and his wife fol-
lowed up a ltt.e along the line Now, many tunes
I've bern TO the White House, really find 1T
formidable pass that line la the Blue Room, and IN
not tinid person either. But IT'S something awful
Tor the strangers they don't know what they
pected do after they pass the President and Mrs.
Cleveland Some hitch along, halt put out their hands,
draw them back, halt bow. then straQhten up scare
at what they done Ind for What they've lett
uDdone Before they get out they are greatly embar-
rassed and OF course very awkward By he time they
get into thu East Room they realize that assisting the
President is tor the most part stinding in the line
and dong nothing. They've read about the wives OF
the Cabinet assisting the President Now they
know what it all means she concluded in little tone
OF sarcasI. ii assisting the President to receive
meant very little assistance after ALL
"When one is an invited gnest one expects to be
ceived as an invited guest, whether goes TO tho
White House to private house. What would the
Cabinet women say il their assistants Wednesdays
were to stand of and bow formally to their visil ors
asked the other And yet the Cabinet receptions
really public receptions. and the hostess shakes hands
with every stranger who chooses to CALL and the assist
do tue thing. But tins hostess goes TO the
White House TO receive with the President and when
there In the Blue Room she draws herself several
inches taller, and bows frigdly to peopls she knows
perfectly we'll and greets socially in her own mouse.
| confess / don't understand this etiquette,
whaie it may be called Pve been goUg to the
White House long time, every winter since has
band has been the Senate, and never anything
like il before this season. So it's new thing"
"Oh, the only peop.e they unbend to the foreign
ers," said the brusque young woman. They bow To
the Amer officials bat they shake hands fast enough
with the diplomats and their wives. They draw the
line at Several OF enough to convince of